Polish coal exports down in H1

Monday, 25 Jul 2011

Polish coal exports fell sharply in the first half of this year, as the country's production continued to decline and domestic demand increased.

Poland's leading exporter Weglokoks exported 4.3 million tonne in the first half of this year, just half the level of its exports in the same period one year earlier. The decline represents a major U turn from the upward trend in Polish exports last year, with total exports rising by around 30% to 8.7 million tonne. The decline has affected all types of coal, but thermal coal exports were hit particularly hard.

The Polish firm said that Weglokoks shipped only 2 million tonne of thermal coal in January to June, a 54% decline year on year. Exports of coking coal declined less dramatically by 27% year on year to 389,000 tonne.

According to Weglokoks figures, in terms of transport, the decline in exports particularly affected seaborne deliveries but rail transport also fell. Seaborne deliveries dropped by 62% on the year to less than 1.2 million tonne. Rail shipments declined by 35% to 840,000tonne.

According to Polish economy ministry figures, the trader is declining shipments as it receives less coal from domestic producers. Polish coal production fell by 5% on year in January to April this year with the decline mainly affecting thermal coal.

(sourced ArgusMedia)

Caofeidian port rail coal supply rose last week

Mar 1, 2011 |en.sxcoal

Coal transported via railway to Caofeidian port, one of the coal-loading ports in northern China, increased 138,000 tonnes to 1.14 million tonnes in the week from Feb 21 to 27, according to the coal portal, operated by Qinhuangdao Seaborne Coal Market.

Coal haulage via railway averaged 163,000 tonnes per day last week, jumping 13.99 percent from a week ago, according to the report, adding the rail coal shipment had surged for two straight weeks.

According to statistics, Caofeidian port handled 894,000 tonnes coal in the week, up 71,000 tonnes or 8.63 percent from the previous week, especially over 160,000 tonnes from Feb 24 to 26.

As navigation at the port was closed for more than 50 hours, an average of 27 vessels waited off the port for loading, 18 vessels more than that in the previous week.

As of Feb 27, coal stockpiled at Caofeidian port stood at a higher level of 2.37 million tonnes.